Improvement in corn-stalk cutters



NITED STATES PATENT OEEIG.

ALBERT O. SMITH, OF FORT MADISON, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO THEO. S. JACKSON, OF SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN coRN-sTALK cur-reas.A

Specification forinlng part of Letters Patent No, 165,128, dated une 29, 1875; application filed March 13, 1875.

reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawings is a representation of a side view of my corn-stalk cutter. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View of the same, and Fig. 3 is a detail view. Fig. 4 is a plan View.

This invention has relation to means for outting up corn-stalks While lying on `the ground in the lield; and it consists in certain novel means for attaching the stalk-cutter to the axle of a straddle-row cultivator, and preventing lateral displacement of the cutter-frame, at the same time allowing the cutter to rise and descend and accommodate itself to inequalities of surface passed over.

In the annexed drawings, A designates a rectangular frame, at the front and rear ends ot' which boxes B B are secured, whichare designed for containing stones or other weig .ts for loading the cutters down to their Work. O designates a shaft, which extends transversely across the frame A and turns in journal-boxes b. From this shaft radiate arms c, having re'- movable chopping-blades d ad j ustably applied to their ends, which blades have double cutting-edges, and are therefore reversible. D D designate two transporting-wheels, which are applied on the ends of a cranked axle, E, carrying a frame, F, which is adapted for having cultivator-teeth secured to it when the stalk-cutter is detached from its axle. G designates a rod, having a long'hook formed on one end, which' hooks over the elevated part of the axle E, and thus attaches the cut- -A ter-carrying frame to this axle. Instead of the rod G a chain may be used. H designates a draft-bail, which is secured to the front crossbeam of the frame A, and which has linked to its front end a double-tree, I, to which the horses are hitched. It will thus be seen that the horses draw Vdirectly on t e cutter-frame A, the cutters rolling on th ground and severing the stalks as they successively strike them. J J designate two arms, which are adjustably secured to the front beam of frame A, at such a distance apart that when this frame is attached to the axle E, as described, the armswill extend between the vertical portions of this axle, and will thus prevent the frame A from undue lateral motion while the cutters are operating. K K designate curved arms, which are loosely connected to a loop, g, in the center of the double-tree I, and which drag on the ground and straighten out the stalks infront ofthe cutters, and leave the stalks in the best possible position for being chopped up.

hat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a cutter-frame, A, transporting-carriage D E, and link G, looselyconnecting the frame and the carriage, whereby theformer is allowed to oscillate on its draftaxis to adapt itself to the inequalities of the soil, substantially as specified.

2. The cutter-bearing frame A, provided with laterally-adjustable arms J, in combination with the crank-arm E of a transportingcarriage, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the, above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT O. SMITH.

Witnesses:

Guns. E. BAEoocK, O. K. HoRNB Y. 

